Folding bed



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

R. 1). CODY FOLDING BED.

N6. 55 676. 93 P666116 6 Mar. 17, 1896.

AN DREW B-GRAHAM FNUTOUTNQWASHINGTON, D C.

(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. 1). CODY. FOLDING BED.

No. 556,576. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

I 'IIIIIII'IIIIII) INVEN T01? AN DREW B GRAHAM. PHUTO'UTHQWASHINGTON.DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD D. CODY, OF XVINONA, MINNESOTA.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,576, dated March17, 1896.

Application filed May 10, 1895.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD D. CODY, a citizen of the United States,andaresident of Vinona, county of Winona, and State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar lettersof reference indicate corresponding parts.

- This invention relates to beds, and the object thereof is to providean improved folding bed in combination with a settee or sofa.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure 1 is afront elevation of a bed embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a sectionthereof on the line 00' a:, the bed being in the lowered position; Figs.3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, detail and sectional views of the mechanism employedfor raising and lowering the bed; Figs. 8 and 9, detail views of theinner end or head supports of the bed; and Figs. 1O, 11, and 12 aredetails of the foot-support of the bed.

In the practice of my invention I provide an upright frame ofsubstantially the usual form, consisting of the base A, provided withbottom side extensions A A, a back B, and vertical sides 0.

The inner end of the bed-frame D is supported by arms D, pivotallyconnected at each side with the upright sides C and the sides D of thebed at d and d, respectively,

but one of the arms D being shown in Fig. 2,

and a vertical bar E, which is hinged to the bed at E and which passesupwardly through a boxing or housing E secured to the back B.

The side extensions A at the bottom of the frame are provided withinterior spaces a of substantially the same form as the extensions, inthe upper outer corners of which are angular pieces a, with which arepivotally connected rods or bars F, provided at their lower ends withpins or pivoted rods F, which pass through a curved slot f in the innerside of the extension A, and into and through the side D of the bed, asshown in Figs. 2 and 9, and a spring f is secured at its upper endwithin the angle-iron a, the lower end of which rests and presses uponthe lower end of the rods or Serial No. 548,877. (No model.)

bars F, as is also clearly shown in Fig. 8, said figure being a view inthe direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 9, the outer side of theextension A being removed.

Beneath the inner end of the bed D is a settee or sofa seat G, the innerside of which, at each end, is pivotally connected with the lower end ofa curved lever G at g, the upper end of said lever being extended upwardthrough the bottom of the bed and secured to the inner surface of theside D, as shown at g. The ends of the seat G are also provided withpins or projections G which extend into curved slots 9 formed in theinner sides of the extensions A of'the frame, the operation of theseparts being hereinafter described.

The upper partofthe rod or bar E is screwthreaded and provided near thelower end thereof with a hinge E so constructed that the lower part ofthe bar can move inwardly, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the upperscrewthreaded end thereof passes through a beveled gear-wheel H,provided with a cylindrical hub or shoulder H, revolubly mounted in thebox or housing E and provided at its lower end with a plate II securedthereto, which abuts against the lower end of said box or housing, asshown in Fig. 3.

The beveled gear-wheel H is in gear with a corresponding beveledgear-wheel h, mounted on a shaft h, which extends at right angles to thevertical rod or bar E, and is supported by bearings secured to the backof the frame.

On one end of the shaft h, adjacent to one of the sides C of the uprightframe, is mounted a wheel K, having a hub J keyed to said shaft, saidwheel being provided with an outwardly-directed annular flange K, havingsprocket or gearing teeth K on its inner surface adapted to engage witha pinion L, mounted on the end of the lever L, pivotally supported at Las shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said lever being placed in a box or housingin the side 0 and provided at its free end with a headed pin Z, whichextends outwardly through a slot Z in said side, and is provided withmeans (not shown) for holding it at any position in said slot.

The pinion L is mounted on the inner end of the shaft M, which extendsthrough the end of the lever L and outwardly through a slot min the side0, and is provided at its outer end with a crank M, and the outer end ofthe hub j of the wheel K is provided with sprocket or gear teeth withwhich the pinion L is adapted to engage, as hereinafter described.

Secured to the outer end or foot of the bed D is a frame consisting ofcurved side pieces or legs N and a cross-bar N, by which they areunited, the upper ends of the legs N being curved inward and pivotallyconnected with the foot-board 0, adjacent to the sides D, notches orrecesses n being cut into the foot-board for this purpose, and justforward of this connection of the legs N are secured, on each side ofthe bed and on the inner surface of the sides I) thereof, curved racksO.

Secured on the outer upper ends of the legs N at each side is a springpawl or detent 0, provided with a projection 0, adapted to engage withthe rack-bar O, and a recess P (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12) isformed in the legs N, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) into which saidpawl or detent may be withdrawn by rods R, one of which is connectedwith each spring pawl or detent and also with a short lever S, pivotallyconnected with the bar N, and centrally thereof, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1.

The frame, consisting of the legs N and cross-bar N, with its attachedpawls or detents 0, rods R, and lever S, constitutes a support for thefoot of the bed when in the position shown in Fig. 2, and this frame isadapted to be folded over into the position shown in dotted lines insaid figure and secure and hold the mattress and bedclothes in positionwhen the latter is folded, as shown in Fig. 1, and in the latterposition the spring pawls or detents 0 engage with the racks O andsecurely hold said foot frame or support, and the lever S may beoperated to release the pawls or detents from the racks 0 when the bedis lowered, as will be readily understood.

In operation the bed is raised or lowered by turning the crank-arm M inthe following manner: If itis desired to raise or fold the bed to theposition shown in Fig. 1, the lever L is so adjusted that the pinion Lthereon engages with the teeth on the inner surface of the flange K ofthe wheel K, when by turnin g the crank M in the proper direction therod or bar E will be forced downward by the gear wheel II, provided withthe hub 11, through which said rod passes, as will be readilyunderstood, and the inner end of the bed will be forced downward orforward and the outer end or foot thereof raised by the joint operationof said rod E and the arms or levers'D and the pivotally-eonnected barsor rods F and g, and at the same time the seat G will be raised andpressed forward by the lever G and the pins G working in the slots ginto the position shown in Fig. 1, where, in connection with theupholstered back T of the bed and the arms U of the extensions A,

it forms a substantial and attractive settee or sofa, and the entiredevice constitutes a neat and ornamental piece of furniture which isboth useful and attractive. Whenever it is desired to lower the bed tothe position shown in Fig. 2 it is only necessary to reverse theoperation of the crank M, or the lever L may be adjusted so that thepinion L thereon will engage with the teeth on the outer end of the hubJ, when by turning the crank M the bed may be lowered much more quickly,and it will also be observed that the spring f operates to'assist inraising or folding the bed to a vertical position.

In the foregoing operation the plate 11 on the hub 11 of the wheel IIretains said wheel in position or prevents the vertical movementthereof, as will be readily understood, and the hinges E and E of therod or bar E permit of the movement necessary in the raising or loweringthe bed.

My improved bed may also be made to fold sidewise instead of endwise, ifdesired, and in this arrangement a settee or sofa seat may also beprovided.

Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In afolding bed, the combination with an upright framehaving side extensions at the bottom thereof provided with slots, ofarms pivoted to the sides of the frame, a bed pivotally supported bysaid arms between the extensions, rods or bars pivotally located in saidextensions and connected to the bed through said slots, a beveled gearwheel mounted on the back of the frame, a vertical bar having its lowerend hinged to the bed and provided with a hinged joint above the bed andits upper end screw-threaded and passed through the threaded hub of saidgear-wheel, and means connected with the gear-wheel to raise or lowerthe bed, substantially as described.

2. In a folding bed, the combination with an upright frame having sideextensions at the bottom thereof provided with slots, of arms pivoted tothe sides of the frame, a bed pivotally supported by said arms betweenthe extensions, rods or bars pivotally located in said extensions andconnected to the bed through said slots, a beveled gear-wheel sup portedon the back of the frame, a vertical bar having its lower end hinged tothe bed and provided with a hinged joint above the bed and its upper endscrew-threaded and passed through the threaded hub of the gearwheel,means connected with the beveled gear to raise or lower the bedconsisting of a corresponding beveled gear-wheel mounted on a shaft atright angles to the vertical screw-threaded rod, said shaft beingprovided on its end adjacent to one side of the frame with a gear-wheeland a pinion operating in connection therewith mounted on a shaft whichextends through the side of the vertical frame and a crank connected tosaid shaft by which the bed is raised or lowered, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a folding bed, the combination with a vertical frame having sideextensions at the bottom thereof provided with slots, a bed, rods orbars located in the side extensions and connected to the bed throughsaid slots, side arms or levers pivotally connected with the sides ofthe vertical frame a beveled gearwheel mounted on the frame, a verticalrod hinged to the head of the bed and having its upper end threaded andpassed through the hub of said gear-wheel, said gear-wheel being inengagement with another beveled gearwheel mounted on the frame, a shaftsupporting said gear-wheel and means connected with said shaft tooperate the gear-wheels and rod to raise or lower the bed, substantiallyas described.

4. In a folding bed, the combination with a vertical frame having sideextensions at the bottom thereof provided with slots, of a bed the inneror head end of which is pivotally supported between said extensions bymeans of pivoted rods or bars located in said extensions and pivotallyconnected with the sides of the bed by means of pins or bolts whichextend through the slot formed in said extensions, and arms or leverspivotally connected with the sides of the bed and with the sides of thevertical frame and a vertical rod hinged to the inner end or head of thebed, provided with a hinged joint and the upper end of which isscrew-threaded and passes through the screw-threaded hub of a pivotedgear-wheel supported in a box or housing secured to the back of the bedthrough which said hub extends and below which it is pro vided with aplate secured thereto to prevent the vertical movement thereof, and acorresponding beveled gear-wheel mounted on a shaft at right angles tosaid vertical rod, said shaft being provided with means in connectionthereof to operate said gear and vertical screw-threaded rod to raiseand lower the bed substantially as shown and described.

5. In a folding bed, the combination with a vertical frame having sideextensions at the bottom thereof, of a bed the inner or head end ofwhich is pivotally supported between said extensions by means of pivotedrods or bars located in said extensions and pivotally connected with thesides of the bed by means of pins or bolts which extend through slotsformed in said extensions, and arms or levers pivotally connected withthe sides of the bed and with the sides of the vertical frame, and

a vertical rod hinged to the inner end or head of the bed, provided witha hinged joint and having its upper end screw-threaded and passedthrough the screw-threaded hub of a beveled gear-wheel supported in abox or housing secured to the back of the bed through which said hubextends and below which it is provided with a plate secured thereto toprevent the vertical movement thereof, and a corresponding beveledgear-wheel mounted on a shaft at right angles to said vertical rod, saidshaft being provided with means in connection therewith to operate saidgear and vertical screw-threaded rod to raise and lower the bed,consisting of awheel mounted on said shaft provided with anoutwardly-directed annular flange the inner surface of which is providedwith sprocket or gear teeth, and the hub of which, extending in the samedirection as the flange, is also provided with sprocket or gear teeth,and a pinion mounted between said flange and hub on a shaft which passesthrough a lever pivotally supported in such a manner that the pinion maybe caused to engage with the teeth on the flange or those on the hub,and secured in either position, and a crank mounted on the shaft of saidpinion substantially as shown and described.

6. In a folding bed, the combination with a vertical frame having sideextensions at the bottom thereof, of a bed the inner or head end ofwhich ,is pivotally supported between said extensions, and provided withmeans to raise or lower the same, a frame for the support of the footthereof, consisting of side legs connected by a cross-bar the upper endsof the legs being pivotally connected with the foot of the bed, wherebythe frame is adapted to be folded within the sides thereof, and meansfor holding said frame so folded, consisting of rack-bars secured on theinner surfaces of the sides of the bed, and spring pawls or detentsconnected with the legs of the foot-frame and adapted to operate inconnection with said rack-bars, said spring pawls or detents beingconnected with a rod or bar, each of which is pivotally connected with alever secured to the cross-bar of the foot-frame, substantially as shownand described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 29th day of April, 1895.

RICHARD D. CODY.

